THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


The  Mot4ntainy  Singer 


By   SEOSAMH    AfAcCATHMHAO/L 


BOSTON 

THE  FOUR  SEAS  COMPANY 

I919 


Copyright,  ipip,  by 
The  Four  Seas  Company 


The   Four   Seas  Press 
Boston,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 


A  Line's  A  Speech 

A  lute  s  a  speech; 

So  here's  a  line 

To  say  this  pedlar's  pack 

Of  rnitie 

Is  not  a  boon  — 

But  a  journey  through 

Mount  amy  places. 

Ever  in  vievj 

Of  the  sea  and  the  fields, 

IVith  the  rough  ivind 

Bloiuing  over  the  leagues 

Behind! 


626125 


Contents 


page 

I  AM  THE  MOUNT AINY  SINGER  1  \ 

WHEN  ROOKS  FLY  HOMEWARD  13 

1  SPIN  MY  GOLDEN  WEB  14 

CHERRY  VALLEY  15 

DARKNESS  16 

MY  FIDIL  IS  SINGING  17 

THE  GOAT-DEALER  18 

WHY  CRUSH  THE  CLARET  ROSE  19 
LAMENT  OF  PADRAIC  MOR  CRUIMIN  OVER  HIS  SONS    20 

TO  A  TOWN  GIRL  23 

A  MARCH  MOON  24 

A  THOUSAND  FEET  UP  25 

THE  DARK  26 

REYNARDINE  28 

SNOW  29 

I  AM  THE  GILLY  OF  CHRIST  30 

GO,  PLOUGHMAN,  PLOUGH  32 

GO.  REAPER  33 

THE  GOOD  PEOPLE  34 
THE  STORM  IS  STILL.  THE  RAIN  HATH  CEASED           35 

SCARE-THE-CROWS  36 

A  CRADLE-SONG  37 

TWINE  THE  MAZES  THRO'  AND  THRO'  39 

A  FIGHTING  MAN  40 

MY  MOTHER  HAS  A  WEE  RED  SHOE  Al 


fagc 

BY  A  WONDROUS  MYSTERY  44 

I  GATHER  THREE  EARS  OF  CORN  4fr 

THE  TINKERS  48 

AS  I  CAME  OVER  THE  GREY.  GREY  HILLS  49 

A  NORTHERN  LOVE-SONG  50 

TO  THE  GOLDEN  EAGLE  51 

A  PROPHECY  52 

1  MET  A  WALKING-MAN  54 

THE  NINEPENNY  FIDIL  55- 

GRASSLANDS  ARE  FAIR  57 

WINTER  SONG  58- 

I  FOLLOW  A  STAR  59 

THE  SILENCE  OF  UNLABOURED  FIELDS  60- 

THE  BEGGAR'S  WAKE  61- 

THE  BESOM-MAN  67  ■ 

EVERY  SHUILER  IS  CHRIST  70 

I  WISH  AND  I  WISH  7  J 

I  AM  THE  MAN-CHILD  12 

FRAGMENT  74 

AT  THE  WHITENING  OF  THE  DAWN  75 

WHO  ARE  MY  FRIENDS  76 

0  GLORIOUS  CHILD-BEARER  77 
CORONACH  '  78 
TWILIGHT  FALLEN  79 
THE  DAWN  V/HITENE3S  80 
THE  DV/ARF  81 

1  SEE  ALL  LOVE  IN  LOWLY  THINGS  8> 
TIS  PRETTY  TAE  BE  IN  BAILE-LIOSAN  84 


fage 

CIARAN.  MASTER  OF  HORSES  AND  LAND  86 

DEEP  WAYS  AND  DRIPPING  BOUGHS  67 

NIGHT.  AND  1  TRAVELLING                  ^  68 

NIGHT  PIECE                                              '  89 

AT  MORNING  TIDE  ^0 

THE  MAY-FIRE  91 

I  LOVE  THE  DIN  OF  BEATING  DRUMS  93 

THREE  COLTS  EXERCISING  IN  A  SIX-ACRE  94 

THE  NATURAL  95^ 

ON  THE  TOP-STONE  96 

THE  WOMEN  AT  THEIR  DOORS  97 

MY  LITTLE  DARK  LOVE  99 

I  HEARD  A  PIPER  PIPING  101 

THE  CLOUDS  GO  BY  AND  BY  102 

DAVY  DAW  103 

BLACK  SILE  OF  THE  SILVER  EYE  107 

A  SHEEPDOG  BARKS  ON  THE  MOUNTAIN  109 

DEAD  OAKLEAVES  EVER YV/HERE  110 

A  NIGHT  PRAYER  1 1 1 

1  AM  THE  MOUNTAINY  SINGER  112 

THE  RAINBOW  SPANNING  A  PLANET  SHOWER  113 

I  WILL  GO  WITH  MY  FATHER  A-PLOUGHING  1 14 

THE  SHINING  SPACES  OF  THE  SOUTH  1 1 6 

LIKE  A  TUFT  OF  CEANABHAN  1 1 7 

THE  HERB-LEECH  118 

WHO  BLTyS  LAND  120 

THE  POET  LOOSED  A  WINGED  SONG  12i 

SIC  TRANSIT  123- 


The  Mountainy  Singer 


/  Am  the  Moiaitainy  Singer 

I  am  tKe  mountainy  singer  — 

Tke  voice  of  tne  J)easant  s  dream. 

Tlic  cry  oi  tne  wind  on  tne  wooded  nil', 

TKe  leaf)  of  tKe  fisK  m  tKe  stream. 

Quiet  and  love  I  sing  — 
TKe  earn  on  tKe  mountain  crest, 
TKe  cailm  in  Ker  lover  s  arms. 
TKe  cKild  at  its  motKer  s  treast. 


Beauty  end  f)cace  1  sing  — 
TKe  iire  on  tKe  ot)en  KeartK, 
TKe  cailleacK  sf)]nning  at  Ker  wKeel, 
TKe  f)lougK  m  tKe  broken  eartK. 

Travail  and  fjam  I  sing  — 
TKe  bride  on  tKe  cKildmg  bed. 
TKe  darlc  man  laboring  at  Kis  rKymes, 
TKe  ewe  in  tKe  lembmg  sKed. 

Sorrow  and  deatK  I  sing  — 
TKe  canker  come  on  tKe  corn, 

11 


1  ke  nsner  lost  in  tke  mountain  lock, 
Tke  cry  at  tke  moutk  of  morn. 

No  otker  life  I  sing. 
For  I  am  8f>rung  of  tke  stock 
1  kat  broke  tke  killy  land  for  kread. 
And  kuilt  tke  nest  in  tke  rock! 


12 


When  Rooks  Fly 
Momeward 

When  rooks  fly  komevvard 
Ana  snaaows  fall. 
vVnen  roses  fold 
On  the  nay-yard  wall, 
Wnen  Llmd  motks  flutter 
J3y  door  and  tree, 
J.  Ken  comes  the  quiet 
Of  Christ  to  me. 

W^nen  stars  look  out 
On  tKe  Ckildren's  Patk 
And  grey  mists  gatker 
On  earn  and  ratk. 
VVken  nigkt  is  one 
vVitk  tke  brooding  sea. 
1  ken  comes  tke  quiet 
Of  Ckrist  to  me. 


13 


/  spin  My  Golden  Web 

I  st)in  my  golden  wet  m  the  sun: 
Tke  ckerries   trcmtle.    tke  ligkt  is  done. 
A.  suJden  wind  sweeps  over  the  bay. 
And  carries  my  golden  web  away ! 


14 


1 


Cherry  Valley 

In  CKerry  Valley  tKe  ekerries  tlow: 
The  valley  JjatKs  are  wKite  as  snow. 

And  in  tkeir  time  witk  clusters  red 
1  ke  scented  kougks  are  crimsoned. 

Even  now  tke  moon  is  looking  tkrougk 
Tke  glimmer  of  tke  koney  dew. 

A  petal  tremkles  to  tke  grass, 
rke  feet  of  fairies  f)as8  and  J)ass. 

By  thern,  I  know,  all  keauty  comes 
1  o  me,  a  kakitan  of  slums. 

I  sing  no  rune.  I  say  no  line: 
Tke  gift  of  second  sigkt  is  mine ! 


15 


Darkness 

DarKiiess. 

I  stoj)  to  watch  a  star  snme  m  tne  DOg-nole  — 
A.  star  no  longer,  but  a  silver  ribbon  of  lignt. 
I  look  at  it,  and  f)ass  on. 


16 


My  Fiddle  is  Singing 

My  fiddle  is  singing 
Into  tne  air ; 
Tne  wind  is  stirring. 
The  moon  is  lair. 

A  shadow  wanders 
Along  tne  road; 
It  stof>s  to  listen. 
And  drops  its  load. 

Dreams  for  a  sf)ace 
lJ|)on  the  moon, 
Tnen  J>asses,  nummmg 
My  mountain  tune. 


17 


The  Goat  Dealer 

Did  you  see  tne  goat-aealer 
All  m  nis  jacket-green? 
I  met  nim  on  tne  rocKy  road 
Xwixt  tnis  ana  Baile-aoinn. 

A  nunarea  nannies  ran  berore. 
Ana  a  sne-aes  Denma. 
Tnen  tne  old    wanderer   nimselr. 
Burnt  red  witn  sun  and  wind. 

He  gave  me  tne  time-a-day 
And  doitered  over  tne  Kill. 
Wallo{)ing  kis  gay  asnj)lant 
And  snouting  nis  nil, 

I  tKmk  I  hear  Kim  yet. 
TKo    it  s  a  giant  s  cry 
From  wKere  I  Kailed  Kim  nrst. 
Standing  uj)  to  tKe  sKy. 

Is  tKat  Puck  Green  I  see  beyond? 
It  is,  and  tKe  stir  is  tKere. 
By  tKe  Koly  Kat,  I  Know  tKen — 
He's  making  for  Puck  Fair! 

18 


Why  Crush  the  Claret  Rose 

Wky  crusK  tKe  claret  rose 

Tliat  Wows 

So  rarely  on  the  tree? 

WKerefore  tke  enmity,  dear  girl. 

Betwixt  tke  rose  and  thee? 

Art  tkou  not  fair  enougk 

Witk  tkat  dark  keauty  given  tkee. 

Tkat  tkou  must  crusk  tke  rose 

Tkat  klows 

So  rarely  on  tke  tree! 


19 


Lament  of  Padraic  Mor 
mac  Cruimin  over  his  Sons 

1  am  Paaraic  iVIor  mac  Cruimm. 
Son  of  Domknall  of  tlie  Skroud, 
1  ij)er,  like  my  kind  Lcfore  me. 
To  the  nousenold  of  Macleod. 

Death  IS  m  the  seed  of  Cruimin— 
All  my  music  is  a  wail; 
Early  graves  await  the  f>oets 
And  the  fujbers  of  tne  Gael. 

Samhain  gleans  tixQ  golden  karvests 
Duly  m  tneir  tide  and  time. 
But  my  Dody  s  fruit  is  blasted 
Barely  J>ast  tne  Bealtem  Jjrime. 

Cetnlcnn  claims  the  fairest  iigliters 
ritly  for  ner  own,  ner  own, 
But  my  seven  sons  are  stricken 
Where  no  tattle-f  i^e  is  blown. 

Flowers  of  tlie  forest  fallen 
On  f be  sliding  summ.er  stream— 

20 


Lignt  and  liie  and  love  are  witn  me. 
Then  are  vanished  into  dream. 

Berried  DraRcncs  or  tne  rowan 
Rined  in  tne  wizard  wind- 
Clan  and  generation  leave  me, 
Lonely  on  the  heath  behind. 

Who  will  soothe  a  father  s  sorrow 
When  his  seven  sons  are  gone? 
>Vho  will  watch  him  in  his  sleefimg  ( 
Who  will  walte  him  at  the  dawn? 

Seven  sons  are  taken  from  me 
In  the  eomf)ass  of  a  year; 
Every  bone  is  hose  within  me. 
All  my  blood  is  w^hite  with  fear. 

Seven  youths  of  brawn  and  beauty 

Movilder  m  their  mountain  bed, 

\Jp  m  storied  Inis-Scathach 

Wkere  their  fathers  reaf.ed  their  bread. 

Nevermore  ufson  the  mountain. 
Nevermore  m  fair  or  field. 

21 


ohall  ye  see  tnc  seven  cnam|)ion8 
Of  the  silver-mantled  sKield. 

I  will  play  tlie  "Cumhadh  na  Cloinne," 
Wildest  of  tke  rowtk  of  tunes 
Gatnered  ty  tke  love  of  mortal 
t  rom  tne  olden  druid  runes. 

Wail  ye !  NigKt  is  on  tke  water ; 
Wind  and  wave  are  roaring  loud — 
Caotne  for  tke  fallen  ckildren 
Q)i  tke  pipQT  of  MacLeod. 


22 


To  A  Town  Girl 

Violet  mystery. 
Ringleted  gold. 
Wkiteness  of  wkiteness, 
WKerefore  so  cold? 

Silent  you  sit  there- 
Spirit  and  mould- 
Darkening  tke  dream 
Tkat  must  never  be  told! 


2a 


A  March  Moon 

A.  iVIarcn  moon 
Over  the  mountain  crest, 
Ceanabhcn  blowing: 
rier  neck  and  breast. 

Arbutus  berries 
On  the  tree  bead; 
Her  moutb  oi  {>assion. 
i^ewy  and  red. 

Cold  as  cold 
And  hot  as  kot, 
one  loves  me  .... 
And  Sne  loves  me  not  ! 


24 


A  Thousand  Feet  Up 

A  thousand  reet  uj) :    twilight. 
Westwaras,  a  clum|)  or  nr-trces  silnouetted 

against  a  bank  or  blvie  cumulus  cloua; 
1  nc  June  afterglow  like  a  sea  behma. 
1  lie  movintain  trail,  white  ana  clear  wliere  numan 

leet  nave  worn  it.  zigzagging  nighcr  ana  nigner 

till  it  loses  itselr  m  tne  soutnern  skyline. 
A.  {)atcn  of  young  corn  to  my  rignt  nana,  swaying 

and  swaying  continuously,  tno   hardly  an  air  stirs. 
A.  lalcon  wheeling  oveiheed. 

Tk 


le  moon  rising. 


1  he  dam|)  smell  of  the  nignt  m  my  nostrils. 

0  kills,  O  kills. 

To  you  I  lift  mine  eyes  ! 

1  kneel  down  and  kiss  tke  grass  under  my  izot. 

Tke  sense  of  tke  mystery  and  infinity  of  tkmgs  over- 

wkelms  me.  annikilates  me  almost. 
1  kneel  down,  and  silentiy  worskij). 


25 


The  Dark 

This  IS  tke  darlc. 

This  IB  the  dream  that  came  of  the  dark. 

This  18  the  dreamer  who  dreamed  the  dream 
that  came  of  the  dark. 

1  his  is  the  look  the  dreamer  looked  who 
dreamed  the  dream  that  came  of  the   dark. 

This  IS  the  love  that  followed  the  look  the 
dreamer  looked  who  dreamed  the  dream  that 
came  of  the  dark. 

This  is  the  Lreast  that  fired  the  love  that 
followed  the  look  the  dreamer  looked  who 
dreamed  the  dream  that  came  of  the  dark. 

This  IS  the  song  was  made  to  the  hreast  that 
fired  the  love  that  followed  the  look  the 
dreamer  looked  who  dreamed  the  dream  that 
came  of  the  dark. 

This  is  the  sword  that  tracked  the  song  was 
made  to  the  hreast   that    fired  the   love  that 


26 


followed  tne  look  tne  dreamer  looked  wno 
dreamed  tne  dream  that  came  of  tne  dark. 

This  IS  the  rof>e  that  swung  tne  sword  that 
tracked  the  song  was  made  to  tne  Lreast 
tnat  nred  tne  love  that  followed  tne  look  tne 
dreamer  looked  who  dreamed  the  dream  that 
came  of  the  dark. 

Tkis  IS  the  dark  that  buried  the  roJ)e  that 
swung  the  sword  that  tracked  the  song  was 
made  to  the  breast  that  nred  the  love  that 
followed  the  look  the  dreamer  looked  who 
dreamed    the  dream   that  came  of  the   dark. 

TKis  is  the  dark,  indeed! 


27 


Reynardine 

if  by  chance  you  look  lor  me 
p8rnaj)s  you  11  not  me  Und, 
Tor  I'll  De  in  my  castle  — 
Enquire  lor  Reynarame! 

bun  ana  dark  he  courted  me  — 
ills  eyes  were  red  as  wme: 
ixe  tooK  me  for  nis  Icman, 
Did  my  sweet  Reynardine. 

bun  and  dark  the  gay  norn  dIow^s, 

ike  beagles  run  like  wind: 

1  ney  know  not  where  lie  narbours. 

The  lairy  Reynardine. 

If  oy  chance  you  look  for  me 
Pernaf)S  you  ll  not  me  nnd. 
For  I  11  DC  in  my  castle— 
Enquire  for  Reynardine! 


28 


Snow 

Hills  tnat  were  aark 
At  8j)aring-time  last  nignt 
Now  m  the  aawn-rmg 
Glimmer  cold  ana  white. 


29 


I  am  the  Gilly  of  Christ 

1  am  the  gilly  of  Christ, 
TKe  mate  of  Mary  s  Son ; 
I  run  tne  roads  at  seeding  time. 
And  wnen  the  narvest  s  done. 

I  slee|>  among  tne  nills, 

Tne  neatner  is  my  bed ; 

I  dif)  the  termon-well  for  drinlf. 

And  |)ull  trie  sloe  for  oread. 

No  eye  has  ever  seen  me, 
Bvit  sncf)nerds  near  me  {)as6. 
Singing  at  fall  of  even 
Along  tne  snadowed  grass. 

The  Deetle  is  my  oellman, 
Tne  meadow-iire  my  guide. 
The  bee  and  bat  my  ambling  nags 
vVhen  I  have  need  to  ride. 

All  know  me  only  tne  Stranger, 
VV  no  sits  on  the  Saxon  s  hcigkt ; 

30 


He  burned  the  tacacK  s  little  Kouse 
On  last  Saint  Brigid  s  NigKt. 

lie  su|)s  on  silver  aisnes. 
Ana  arinks  in  a  golden  Korn, 
out  he  will  wake  a  w^iser  man 
U|)on  the  Judgment  Morn! 

I  am  tne  Gilly  or  Christ, 
The  mate  of  Mary  s  Son ; 
I  run  the  roads  at  seeding  time. 
And  when  the  harvest  s  done. 

The  seed  I  sow  is  lucky. 
The  corn  I  reaj>  is  red. 
And  whoso  sings  the  Gill  s  Rann 
vVill  never  cry  for  bread. 


31 


Go^  Ploughman^  Plough 

Go,  J)lougkman,  t)lougn 

The  mearing  lanas. 

The  meadow  lanas, 

Tne  mountain  lands: 

All  life  IS  La  re 

Beneath  your  share. 

All  love  IS  m  your  lusty  hands. 

U  J),  horses,  now  ! 

And  straight  and  true 

Let  every  brohen  lurrow^  run  ; 

The  strength  you  sweat 

Shall  blossom  yet 

In  golden  glory  to  the  sun. 


32 


Go,  Reaper 

Go,  rcaj)er. 
Oj)eea  ana  reaf), 
Cjo  take  tne  harvest 
Of  tlie  t)lougli  : 
The  wheat  is  standing 
Jjroaa  ana  aeef), 
1  ne  barley  glumes 
Are  golden  now. 

L/abor  IS  Kara, 

But  it  endures 

JLiKe  love : 

Tne  land  is  yours  : 

Cjo  reaj)  the  lire 

It  gives  you  now. 

O  sunbrowned    master 

Oi  tke  t)lougk  ! 


33 


The  Good  People 

1  ne   millway  f)atn  Iooks  like  a  wraith, 
Xne  lock  is  olack  as  ink. 
Ana  silently  m  stream  ana  sky 
Xne  stars  oegm  to  blink. 

I  see  tnem  f)ass  along  the  grass 
vVith  slow  ana  solemn  tread: 
Aoibneall,  tneir  queen,  is  in  between — 
A  corf>se  is  at  their  head  ! 

Xney  wander  on  with  faces  wan. 
And  dirges  sad  as  wind. 
I  know  not.  but  it  may  be  tnat 
Tne  dead  s  oi  numan  kind. 


34 


The  Storm  is  Still, 
The  Rain  hath  Ceased 

TKe  storm  is  still,  the  rain  nath  ccasea 
To  vex  tKe  teauty  or  the  east : 
A  linnet  signetK  m  tne  wooa 
His  Kermit  song  or  gratitude. 

So  skall  I  sing  wnen  lire  is  done 
To  greet  tKe  glory  of  the  sun; 
And  cloud  find  star  and  stream  and  sea 
SKall  dance  for  very  ecstasy  ! 


35 


Scare-the-  Crows 

1  wojjence  a  day  for  scaring  crowds— 
Xno    tne  rain  beats  ana  tne  wind  blows  ! 

1  he  scnolars  thmK  I  ve  little  -wit. 
But.  Cjod  !  I  ve  got  my  snare  or  it. 

Vvny  does  tne  gorbing  land-snark 
Leave  J)lougned  rigs  for  tne  green  f)arlc  ? 

vVnere  little  s  to  nnd,  and  nothing  s  to  eat 
But  rabbits    droJ)t)ing8  and  f)Keasants    meat. 

He  Knows  better  tnan  come  my  way 
Between  tne  moutn  and  tne  tail  oi  day. 

For  one  lick  of  my  nurding  wattle 

Would  lay  nim  out  like  a  snowman  s  bottle  ! 

And  tne  thoughts  that  rise  in  my  crazed  head 
When  the  cloud  is  low  and  the  wind  s  dead. 

Where  you  see  only  clay  and  stones 
I  see  swords  and  blanching  bones 

Bvit  I  11  leave  you  now. —  it  s  gone  six. 
And  the  smoke  is  curling  over  the  ricks. 

And  it  s  hardly  like  that  the  land-shark 
W^ill  trouble  the  furrows  after  dark. 


36 


A  Cradle  Song 


SleeJ),  wnite  love,  slecf>, 

A  cedarn  cradle  Kolas  tnee. 

And  twilight,  like  a  silver-woven  coverlid. 

Enfolds  tnee. 

Moon  and  star  kee^  cnarmed  watcn 

vJl^on  tny  lying  ; 

Water  f)lovers  tnro    tlie  dusk 

Are  tremulously  crying. 

SleeJ),  w^nite  love  mine. 

Till  day  doth  snme. 

Sleef).  white  love,  sleef). 

Tne  daylight  wanes,  and  deef)er 

Gathers  tne  blue  darkness 

O  er  tne  cradle  of  the  slee|)Gr. 

Cliodnna  s  curacns,  carmine-oared. 

On  Loch-da-linn  are  gleaming  ; 

Blind  oats  nutter  tnro    tne  nignt. 

And  carrion  birds  are  screaming. 

Sleef),  wnite  love  mine. 

Till  day  dotk  snine. 

37 


Sleef),  wkite  love,  sleej), 
The  holy  mothers,  Anne  ana  Mary, 
Sit  nign  m  heaven,  dreaming 
On  trie  seven  ends  of  Eire. 
Brigid  sits  beside  them, 
St)inning  lamD-wnitc  wool  on  whorls. 
Singing  fragrant  songs  of  love 
Xo  little  naKed  toys  and  girls. 
Sleef>,  white  love  mine. 
Till  day  doth  shine. 


38 


Twine  the  Mazes  thro" 
and  thrd^ 

Twine  tKe  mazes  thro    ana  tnro 
Over  teach  ana  margent  f»ale ; 
Not  a  tawn  apjjears  in  view. 
Not  a  sail ! 

Round  about! 
In  ana  out ! 

Tkro    tke  stones  ana  sandy  bars 
To  tke  music  of  tne  stars ! 
Tke  asteroidal  nre  tnat  dances 
Nigktly  in  tke  nortkern  blue. 
Tke  brigktest  of  tke  boreal  lances. 
Dances  not  so  ligkt  as  you, 

Cliodkna  ! 
Dances  not  so  ligkt  as  you. 


39 


A  Fighting-Man 

A  ngnting-man  he  was. 
Guts  ana  soul  ; 
His  blooa  was  not  ana  red 
As  tnat  on  Cam  s  nand-towel, 

A  eo{)f)er-SKinnea  six-iooter. 
Hewn  out  or  the  rock. 
VVno  would  stand  uf)  against 
His  nammer-KnocK? 

Not  a  sinner — 
No,  and  not  one  dared  ! 
Giants  snowed  clean  neels 
Wnen  nis  arm  was  Lared. 

I  ve  seen  nim  swing  an  anvil 
Fifty  feet. 

Break  a  tough  in  two. 
And  tear  a  twisted  sneet. 

And  tne  music  or  nis  roar — 
L/ike  oaks  m  tnunder  cleaving  ; 

40 


Lij^s  foaming  red  frotn. 
And  flanks  heaving. 

God  !  a  goodly  man, 

A  Gael,  the  last 

Of  tliose  tliat  stood   witK  Dan 

On  MullacK-Maist ! 


41 


My  Mother  has  a  Wee 
Red  Shoe 

My  motlier  lias  a  wee  red  snoe — 
Sne  Lovaglit  it  off  a  tacacn-man; 
And  all  tlie  neigKtors  say  it  s  true 
He  stole  it  off  a  Leatk-trogan. 

Bacacn-man.  Dacacn-man. 

Wit  ere  did  you  get  it? 

Faitk  now,  says  ne. 

In  my  leatner  wallet ! 

My  father  nas  an  arrow-head — 

He  Legged  it  off  J)oor  Peig  na  Blath ; 

And  Mor.  tke  talkmg-woman,  said 

SKe  found  it  m  a  fairy  ratn. 

Peig  na  BlatK,  Peig  na  Blatk, 
Wkere  did  you  get  it  ; 
Faitk  now,  said  ske. 
In  my  wincey  jacket! 


42 


My  trotKer  kas  a  cof)f)er  t)ot — 
He  tryst    it  wi    a  snuiler-man ; 
And  gossif)  says  it  s  like  as  not 
He  trujff  d  it  from  a  Clotnair-eeann. 
Sliuiler-nian,  snuiler-man, 
WKere  did  you  get  it? 
FaitK  now.  says  he. 
In  my  oreecnes    f)ocKet  ! 


43 


By  a  JVondrous  Mystery 

By  a  wondrous  mystery 
Cnrist  of  Mary  s  fair  boay 
Uj)on  a  miaale  winter  s  morn. 
Between  the  tides  of  nignt  ana  day. 
In  Ara  s  Koly  lele  was  born. 
Mary  went  uJ)on  ner  knee 
Travailing  m  ecstasy. 
And  Brigid,  mistress  of  the  birtn. 
Full  reverently  and  tenderly 
Laid  tke  cKild  uf»on  the  eartn. 
Tncn  tne  dark-eyed  rose  did  blow. 
And  rivers  leajied  from  out  the  snow. 
Earth  grew  lyrical :  the  grass. 
As  tne  lignt  w^inds  cnanced  to  J)a8S— 
Inan  magian  music  more  J)roiound— 
Murmured  in  a  maze  of  sound. 
vVnitc  incense  rose  uf>on  tne  nills 
As  from  a  thousand  thuriDles, 
And  m  tKe  cast  a  seven-rayed  star 
Proclaimed  tne  news  to  near  and  far. 

44 


Tne  8ne;^nerd  danced,  the  gilly  ran. 

1  ne  Doatman  left  nis  euraenan; 
Tne  King  came  riding  on  the  wind 
To  oner  gifts  of  coin  and  kind; 
The  druid  droJ)f)ed  nis  ognam  wand. 
And  said,  "Another  day  s  at  Kand, 
A  newer  dawn  is  in  tne  sky: 
I  J)ut  my  w^itncred  8af)ling  by. 
The  druid  Christ  has  taken  breath 

1  o  sing  the  runes  of  life  and  death. 


45 


/  Gather  Three  Ears 
of  Corn 

I  gather  tnree  ears  or  corn. 

And  tlie  Black  Earl  from  over  tne  sea 

Sails  across  in  nis  silver  shij)s. 

And  takes  two  out  of  tne  tnree. 

I  mignt  Duila  a  house  on  tne  nill 
Ana  a  barn  of  tne  8j)eckly  stone. 
And  tell  my  little  stocking  of  gold. 
If  the  Earl  would  let  me  alone. 

But  Ke  nas  no  thougnt  for  me  — 
Only  tne  tnougnt  of  his  snare. 
And  t\ve  softness  of  tne  linsey  snifts 
His  lazy  daugnters  wear. 

Tnere  is  a  God  in  heaven. 

And  angels,  score  on  score, 

VVho  will  not  see  my  heartnstone  cold 

Because  I    m  crazed  and  {)Oor. 

46 


My  cKiUer  Kavc  my  blood. 
AnJ  wKen  tKey  get  tKeir  Learde 
TKey  wil]  not  be  content  to  run 
As  gillics  to  tkeir  kerds! 

Tne  day  will  come,  maybe. 
When  we  can  nave  our  own. 
And  tke  Black  Earl  will  come  to  us 
Begging  tKe  tacacn  s  Lone. 


47 


The  Tinkers 

"One  ciarog  tnows  anotner  ciarog, 
And  wky  sliouldn  1 1  tnow  you,  you  rogue? 
"Tliey  say  a  stroller  will  never  f)air 
Excef)t  witn  one  of  nis  kind  ana  care  .  .  . 
So  talked  two  tinkers  pvom  in  the  snough — 
And  tken.  as  tKe  fun  got  a  trifle  rougn. 
TKey  flitted:  ke  witk  kis  corn-straw  bass. 
Ske  witk  ker  load  of  tin  and  brass  : 
As  mad  a  matck  as  you  would  see 
In  a  twelvemontk  s  ride  tkro    Ckristendie. 
He  roared  —  tkey  kotk  were  drunk  as  kell: 
Ske  danced,  and  danced  it  migkty  well ! 
I  could  kave  eyed  tkem  longer,  but 
Tkey  staggered  for  tke  Quarry  Cut : 
Tkat  kalf-JDerck  seemed  to  trouble  tkem  more 
Tkan  all  tke  leagues  tkey  d  tram{)ed  before. 
Some    11  drink  at  tke  fair  tke  morrow. 
And  some    11  suj)  witk  tke  st)Oon  of  sorrow; 
But  wketker  they  'II  get  as  far  as  Droickid 
Tke  nigkt  —  well,  wko  knows  tkat  but  (jod? 

48 


As  I  Came  Over  the  Grey, 
Grey  Hills 

As  I  came  over  the  grey,  grey  mils 

Ana  over  tne  grey,  grey  water, 

I  saw  tne  gilly  leading  on. 

And  the  wnite  Christ  following  after. 

vVhere  and  wnere  does  tne  gilly  lead? 
And  wnere  is  tne  white  Cnrist  faring? 
Tkey  ve  travelled  tne  four  grey  sounds  of  Ore, 
And  tlie  four  grey  seas  of  Eirinn. 

TKe  moon  it  set  and  the  wind  s  away. 
And  tlie  song  in  tne  grass  is  dying. 
And  a  silver  cloud  on  tne  silent  sea 
Like  a  shrouding  sheet  is  lying. 

But  Christ  and  the  gilly  will  follow  on 
Till  tKe  ring  in  tne  east  is  snowing. 
And  the  awny  corn  is  red  on  tne  nills. 
And  tke  golden  ligKt  is  glowing ! 


49 


A  Northern  Love- Song 

Brigiam  Ban  or  the  Iint-wnitc  locks, 
Wkat  was  it  gave  you  that  flaxen  hair. 
Long  as  tne  summer  neatn  in  tne  rocks: 
Wkat  was  it  gave  you  tnose  eyes  ox  nrc. 
LiJ)s  so  waxen  ana  cheek  so  wan? 
Tell  me.  tell  me,  Brigiain  Ban, 
Little  wnite  oriae  of  my  neart  s  desire. 

Was  it  tne  Good  PeoJ)le  stole  you  away. 

Little  wKite  snangeling.  Brigidm  Banf 

Carried  you  on  in  tne  ring  or  tne  dawn. 

Laid  like  a  queen  on  ner  J)ur|)le  car. 

Carried  j'^ou  Lack   twixt  tne  nignt  and  tne  day ; 

Gave  you  that  fortune  of  flaxen  hair. 

Gave  you  tnose  eyes  of  wandering  nre. 

Lit  at  the  wheel  of  tne  soutnern  star; 

Gave  you  that  look  so  far  away, 

Li\p  so  waxen  and  cheek  so  wan? 

Tell  me,  tell  me.  Brigidin  Ban. 

Little  white  bride  of  my  neart  s  desire. 

50 


To  The  Golden  Eagle 

Wan  Jerer  of  tKe  mountain. 
Winger  of  tlie  Llue, 
From  tkis  stormy  rock 
I  send  my  love  to  you. 

Take  me  for  your  lover. 
Dark  and  fierce  and  true- 
Wanderer  of  tKe  mountain. 
Winger  of  tke  tlue! 


51 


A  Prophecy 

"rke  loins  of  tke  GallJackt 
bnalJ  witlier  like  grass   — 
Strange  words  I  Keard  said 
At  the  fair  or  Dun-eas. 

"A.  bard  snail  be  Lorn 
Or  the  seed  of  tke  folic, 
lo  breflK  witk  kis  singing 
1  ke  bond  and  tke  yoke. 

"A  sword,  wkite  as  askes, 
Skall  fall  from  tke  sky. 
To  rise,  red  as  Llood. 
On  tke  ekarge  and  tke  cry. 

"Stark  J)if)ers  skall  blow. 
Stout  drummers  skall  keat. 
And  tke  skout  of  tke  nortk 
Skall  be  keard  m  tke  street. 

"Tke  strong  skall  go  down. 
And  tke  weak  skall  J)revail, 

52 


And  a  glory  snail  sit 

On  tne  sign  of  the  (jaoanal. 

"Then  Emer  snail  come 
In  good  time  by  ner  own. 
And  a  man  oi  tne  |)eof>le 
bnall  sf>eaK  from  tne  tnrone. 

Strange  words  I  neard  seid 
At  tne  Fair  of  Dun-eas — 
"Tne  Gaodnaldaent  shall  live. 
The  Galldacnt  snail  J)ass ! 


53 


I  Met  a  JValking-Man 

I  met  a  walking-man; 

His  head  was  old  and  grey. 

I  gave  him  what  I  nad 

To  erutcn  him  on  nis  way. 

The  man  was  Mary  s  Son,  I   11  swear; 

A  glory  trcmtled  in  his  nair! 

Ana  since  tnat  blessed  day 

I    ve  never  Known  the  J)incn: 

I  J)lough  a  Droad  townland. 

And  dig  a  rivcr-incn  ; 

And  on  my  heartn  tne  nre  is  bngnt 

For  all  that  walk  ty  day  or  nignt. 


54 


The  Ninepenny  Fidil 

My  fatlicr  and  motlicr  were  Irisn, 

And  I  am  Irisn  too: 

I  bougkt  a  wee  iidil  for  ninef)ence. 

And  it  IS  Irisn,  too. 

I'm  uf)  in  tKe  morning  early 

To  meet  tne  dawn  or  day. 

And  to  tke  ImtwKite  8  l)if)ing 

Tne  many   s  tne  tune  I  t>lay. 

One  |)leasant  eve  in  June  time 
I  met  a  locKrie-man : 
His  face  and  hands  were  weazen, 
His  Keigkt  WQS  not  a  sj)an. 
He  toor  d  me  for  my  ndil— 
"You  Icnow,     says  ne,  "like  you. 
My  fatKer  and  motner  were  Irisn, 
And  I  am  Irish,  too! 

He  took  my  wee  red  ndil. 
And  sucn  a  tune  ne  turned  — 
TKe  Glaise  in  it  whisj)ered, 

55 


Tne  Lionan  in  it  m  urned. 

Says  he,  "My  laa,  you    re  lucky— 

I  wish  t    I  was  like  you  : 

You  re  lucky  in  your  Dirtn-star, 

Ana  in  your  nail,  too! 

He  gave  me  back  my  nail. 

My  fidil-stick,  also. 

And  ste|)J)ing  like  a  mayboy, 

ITe  jumf)ea  tne  Leargaian  ICnowe. 

I  never  saw  him  after. 

Nor  met  nis  gentle  kind ; 

But,  w^niles.  I  tnink  I  hear  nim 

A-wlieening  in  the  wind  ! 

My  latner  and  mother  were  Irish, 

And  I  am  Insn,  too: 

I  bought  a  w^ce  ndil  for  ninefence. 

And  it  18  Irish,  too. 

I   m  uf)  in  the  morning  early 

To  meet  tne  dawn  of  day. 

And  to  tne  lintwhite  s  f)if)ing 

Tke  many   s  tne  tune  I  Jilay. 

56 


Grasslands  Are  Fair 

(jrasslanas  are  fair, 
Pjougnlanas  are  rare. 
Cjrasslanas  are  lonely, 
Plougnlanas  are  comely. 
Grasslands  breed  cattle, 
Ploughlands  feed  |)eo|)le. 
Grasslands  are  not  wrougnt, 
Ploughlands  swell  witK  tkought. 


57 


Winter  Song 


Twould  skin  a  lairy 

It  IS  so  airy. 

Ana  trie  snow  it  nif>s  so  cola; 

one^nera  ana  squire 

Sit  by  tne  nre. 

Trie  sneej)  are  in  the  fola. 

You  nave  your  wish  — 

A.  reeking  aisn. 

Ana  ruDolc  walls  about ; 

So  t>ity  tne  f)Oor 

Tnat  nave  no  door 

Xo  keef)  tne  winter  out! 


58 


/  Follow  a  Star 

I  follow  a  star 

Burning  aec|)  in  tne  blue. 

A  sign  on  the  hills 

Lit  for  me  ana  for  you! 

Moon-red  is  the  star, 
Halo-nngea  like  a  rood, 
CKrist  s  heart  m  its  heart  set. 
Streaming  witn  olooa. 

Follow  the  gilly 

Beyond  to  tne  west: 

He  leads  wkere  tke  Cnrist  lies 

On  Mary  s  white  breast. 

King.  f)riest  and  f)rof)het — 
A  cKild.  and  no  more — 
Adonai  tKe  Maker ! 
Come,  let  us  adore. 


59 


The  Silence  of  Unlaboured 
fields 

TKe  silence  of  unlaoourea  nelas 
Lies  like  a  judgment  on  the  air: 
A  kuman  voice  is  never  heard: 
Tke  sigkmg  grass  is  everywhere — 
TKe  sigking  grass,  tke  skadowed  sky, 
Tke  cattle  crying  wearily! 

Wkcre  are  tke  lowland  t)eo|)le  gone  ? 
Wkere  are  tke  sun-dark  faces  now? 
Tke  love  tkat  ke^t  tke  quiet  keartk, 
Tke  strengtk  tkat  keld  tke  sj)eeding  {)lougk? 
Grasslands  and  lowing  kerds  are  good. 
But  tetter  kuman  nesk  and  blood  ! 


60 


The  Beggar's  Wake 

1  watcned  at  a  teggar  s  wake 

In  the  Kills  of  Bearra-Larr, 

And  the  old  men  were  telling  stories 

Of  Troy  and  tke  Trojan  war. 

And  a  nicKering  nre  of  bog-deal 
Burned  on  the  oJ)en  Keartli, 
And  the  nignt-wmd  roared  m  tKe  ekimney. 
And  darkness  was  over  tke  eartk. 

And  Tearlack  Ban  MacGiolla, 
Tke  |jij)er  of  Gort,  was  tkere. 
And  ke  sat  and  ke  dreamed  af)art 
In  tke  arms  of  a  sugan  ckair. 

And  sudden  ke  woke  from  kis  dream 
Like  a  dream-fngktened  ckild. 
And  kis  lif)s  were  J)ale  and  tremkling, 
And  kis  eyes  were  wild. 

61 


And  ke  stood  straight  xip,  and  ne  cried, 
Witn  a  wave  of  nis  witnered  nand, 
"  TKe  days  of  the  grasf)ing  stranger 
Shall  be  few  m  tne  land  ! 

**  The  serif)  of  nis  doom  is  written, 
The  thread  of  nis  snroud  is  sf)un  ; 
The  net  of  nis  strength  is  broken, 
Tne  tide  of  his  life  is  run. 

TKen  ne  sank  to  nis  seat  like  a  stone. 
And  the  w^atcners  stared  agnast. 
And  tney  crossed  tnemselves  for  fear 
As  the  comn  cart  went  f)ast. 


"  At  t\xe  tattle  of  Gleann-mviic-duibn 
TKe  fate  the  Jjoets  foretold 
Shall  fall  on  the  neck  of  tne  stranger. 
And  redden  tne  sj)lasny  mould. 

62 


"  1  ne  bagmen  carry  tne  story 
1  ne  circuit  of  Irelana  round. 
And  tney  sing  it  at  fair  and  hurling 
From  Edair  to  Aeaill  Sound. 

**  And  the  folk  ref)eat  it  over 
About  tne  winter  fires, 
1  ill  tne  heart  of  eacn  one  listening 
Is  burning  witK  fierce  desires. 

**  In  tne  Glen  of  tKe  Bristleless  Boar 
They  say  the  battle  shall  be. 
Where  Breiffne  s  iron  mountains 
Look  on  the  Western  sea. 

*'  In  the  Glen  of  the  Pig  of  Diarmad. 
On  Gulban  s  hither  side. 
The  battle  shall  be  broken 
About  the  Samham  tide. 

"  Forth  from  the  ancient  hills. 
With  war-cries  strident  and  loud. 
The  f)eof)le  shall  march  at  daybreak. 
Massed  in  a  clamorous  crowd. 

63 


*'  War-J)if)es  sliall  scream  and  cry, 
AnJ  Lattle-banners  sKall  wave. 
Ana  every  stone  on  Gultan 
Skall  mark  a  hero  s  grave. 

"  Tke  norses  snail  wade  to  tneir  nougns 
In  rivers  of  smoking  Llooa, 
Charging  thro    nea{)S  of  corf)ses 
Scattered  m  wnmny  and  wood. 

"  TKe  girths  shall  rot  from  their  Lellies 
After  the  Lattle  is  done. 
For  lack  of  a  nand  to  undo  them 
And  hide  tnem  out  of  tne  sun. 

"  It  snail  not  be  tne  tattle 
Between  tne  folk  and  the  Sidhe 
At  tne  raj)e  of  a  bride  from  her  ted 
Or  a  tate  from  its  mother  s  knee. 

**  It  snail  not  te  tke  tattle 
Between  tne  wnite  nosts  nymg 
And  the  snriekmg  devils  of  tell 
For  a  Jjriest  at  the  fomt  of  dying. 

64 


"  It  sKall  not  te  in  tlie  battle 
Between  tne  sun  ana  tne  leaves. 
Between  tne  winter  ana  summer. 
Between  the  storm  ana  the  sheaves. 

But  a  tattle  to  doom  ana  aeath 
Between  tne  Gael  ana  the  Gall. 
Between  tne  sword  oi  lignt 
And  tne  shield  or   darkness  and  tnrall. 

"  And  the  Gael  snail  nave  the  mastery 
Alter  a  month  or  days. 
And  tne  lakes  of  tne  west  shall  cry. 
And  tne  hills  or  tne  north  shall  Llaze. 

"  And  tne  neck  of  the  fair-naired  Gall 
Shall  be  as  a  stool  for  tne  feet 
\Ji   Ciaran,  cnief  of  tne  Gael. 
Sitting  in  Emer  s  seat  !      — 


65 


At  tKis  MacGiolla  fainted. 

Tearing  nis  yellow  hair. 

Ana  tne  young  men  cursed  tlie  stranger. 

Ana  the  old  men  moutlied  a  prayer. 

For  tkey  knew  tKe  day  would  come. 
As  sure  as  tne  {>if)er  said, 
When  many  loves  would  he  parted. 
And  many  graves  would  te  red. 

And  tne  wake  broke  up  m  tumult. 
And  the  women  were  left  alone. 
Keening  over  tne  beggar 
Tnat  died  at  Gotnat  s  Stone. 


66 


The  Besom-Man 

Di<l  you  see  Paiam, 
Paidin,  tKe  besom-man. 
Last  nigKt  as  you  came  ty 
Over  tKe  mountain  ? 

A  tartk  of  new  Keatner 
He  tore  on  Kis  snoulder. 
And  a  bundle  of  wkitlow-grass 
Under  Kis  oxter. 

I  st)ie<l  Kim  as  lie  t)assea 
Beyond  tlie  earn  head, 
But  no  eye  saw  him 
At  the  kill  foot  after. 

What  Kas  come  over  nim  ? 
The  women  are  saying. 
What  can  have  crossed 
Paidin,  the  Lesom-man  ? 

67 


1  he  bogholes  Ke  knew 
As  the  curlews  know  them. 
And  the  rahLits'  J)ads, 
And  the  derelict  quarries. 

xle  was  humming  a  tune  — 
1  he  "  Enchanted  Valley  "  ■ 
As  he  f»assed  me  westward 
Beyond  the  earn. 

I  stood  and  I  listened, 
ror  his  singing  was  strange 
It  rang  in  my  ears 
The  long  night  afu 


ter. 


What  has  come  over 
Paidin,  the  tcsom-man  ? 
What  can  have  crossed  him  ? 
ihe  women  heej)  saying. 

They  talk  oi  the  fairies  — 
And,  God  forgive  me. 
Paidm  knew  ^/lem 
JLike  his  f)rayers  ! 

68 


^^ill  you  ietch.  word 
\Jp  to  the  cross-roads 
If  you  see  track  or   him. 
Living  or  aeaa  ? 

Tlie  toys  are  loafing 
AVitlrout  game  or  caper  ; 
And  tne  dark  J)iJ)er 
Is  gone  nome  with  tne  birds. 


69 


Every  Shuiler 
is  Christ 

Every  snuiler  is  CKnst, 
Then  be  not  hard  or  cold  : 
Tne  Dit  tnat  goes  for  CKrist 
Will  come  a  hundred-fold. 

The  ear  u{)on  your  corn 
vVill  burst  oeiore  its  time  ; 
I  our  roots  will  yield  a  croj) 

Witnout  manure  or  lime. 

And  every  suf)  you  give 
To  crutch  nim  on  his  way 
Will  nil  your  cnurn  with  milk. 
And  cnoke  your  barn  witn  nay. 

Then  when  tne  snuiler  begs. 
Be  neither  hard  nor  cold  ; 
The  snare  that  goes  for  Christ 
Will  come  a  bundred-fold. 

70 


/  Wish  and 
I  Wish 

I  wisk  and  I  wish 
AnJ  I  wisK  I  were 
A  golden  tee 
In  tlie  blue  of  tlie  air. 
Winging  my  way 
At  tke  moutk  of  day 
To  tke  koney  marges 
Of  Lock-ciuin-oan  ; 
Or  a  little  green  drake. 
Or  a  silver  swan. 
Floating  upon 
Tke  stream  of  Aili, 
And  I  to  te  swimming 
Gaily,  gaily  ! 


71 


/  Am  the  Man-  Child 

1  am  the  man-cnila.      From  a  virgin  womt. 

Begot  among  tke  kills  of  virgin  loins. 

Tne  generation  of  a  kundred  kings, 

1  come.      I  am  tke  man-ckild  glorious, 

ike  love-son  of  tke  second  Lirtk  foretold 

By  western  Lards,  tke  fruit  of  form  and  strength 

By  nature  s  f)rof)kylactic  foretkougkt  joined 

In  marriage  witk  tkeir  kind,  tke  crown,  tke  feak, 

Tke  summit  of  tke  sckeme  of  tkings,  tke  t)ride 

And  glory  of  tke  kand  of  God. 

Bekold  ! 
Wkere  m  tke  spaces  of  tke  morning  world 
1  ke  sunrise  skmes  my  kartmger,  tke  kills 
LeaJ)  uj),  tke  young  winds  sing,  tke  rivers  dance. 
1  ke  leaving  forests  laugk.  tke  eagles  scream  ; 
Tor  1  am  one  of  tkem.  a  mate,  a  Lrotker. 
Bound  by  nature  to  tke  kuman  soul 
1  kat  thro    tke  accidents  of  nature  runs. 
And  wkerefore  do  tkey  lea|)  and  laugk  and  sing. 
And  dance  like  vestals  on  a  kolyday  ? 

72 


Because  tneir  nearts  are  glad,  and  meenad-like. 

1  key  lam  would  snare  tne  frenzied  c\ip  tney  drink 

With  me,  tne  man-cnild  glorious. 

I  am  he. 
r^ven  ne.  tne  master-mould,  tne  Jjaragon  ! 
Behold  me  in  my  nonage,  ckild  and  man  : 
1  ne  rijjest  graf>e  on  beauty  s  t)rocreant  vine, 
Ine  reddest  a{)f)le  oi  mgatkenng  : 
Perfect  in  form,  of  J)eerless  strength,  and  free 
As  Caoilte  wnen  ne  roamed  tke  J)rimal  Kills 
(Tnose  *'  wildernesses  rich  witk  liberty     ). 
A  hero  tnat  tne  snocks  of  ckanee  migkt  strike. 
But  never  tame,  a  giant  druid-ringed, 
A  god-like  savage  of  the  golden  days 
Ere  service  shackled  action  :   free  itself 
As  Oism  when  he  strayed  in  Doire-cairn, 
His  hand  uf)on  tne  mountain  top,  Kis  (eet 
Fixt  in  the  flowing  sea,  Kis  Koly  kead 
Crowned  ty  a  fligkt  of  birds,  acclaiming  kim 
Tke  singer  of  tke  dawn. 


73 


Fragment 

I  stanJ  uJ)on  tne  summit  now  : 
TKe  falcon,  flying  from  tne  neatn. 
Trails  darWy  o  er  tke  mountain  brow 
And  drof)S  into  tlie  gloom  teneatn. 
Nigkt  falls,  and  witK  it  comes  tke  wind 
Tkat  blew  on  Fionn  time  out  of  mincl, 
Wben  weary  of  love-feasts  ana  wars 
He  left  kis  comraaes  all  benma 
To  dream  u|)on  the  quiet  stars. 
Here  on  tke  lonely  mountain  neignt 
Is  ecstasy  and  living  lignt  —  « 

Tke  living  inner  ligKt  tkat  burns 
Witb  magic  caugKt  from  tbose  wKite  urns 
Tkat  wander  tkro'  tke  trackless  blue 
Forever,  toucking  tkose  tkey  know 
Witk  beauty,  and  tke  tkmgs  tkat  come 
Of  beauty.      Eartk  lies  at  my  feet, 
A  dumb,  vast  skadow,  vast  as  dumb. 


74 


At  the  Whitening 
of  the  Dawn 

At  the  whitening  of  the  aawn. 

As  I  came  o  er  the  winay  water, 

I  saw  the  salmon-nsher  s  daughter, 

Nuala  ni  Cholumain. 

Nuala  ni  Cholumain, 
Nuala  ni  ChoKimain, 
Palest  lily  or   the  aawn 
Is  Nuala  ni  Cholumain. 

In  the  aarK  of  evendown 

I  went  o  er  the  quiet  water. 

Dreaming  of  the  nsher  s  daughter 

And  her  tothy  m  the  town. 

And  I  made  this  sim|)le  rann 
Ere  the  whitening  of  the  dawn, 
Singing  to  the  beauty  wan 
Of  Nuala  ni  Cholumain. 


7^ 


Who  Are  My  Friends 

vVno  are  my  xrienas, 
Faitkful  and  true  f 
Wko  but  the  stars 
That  turn  in  the  blue. 

VVno  tut  tne  sun 
Tnat  sinketn  so  red, 
Wno  tut  tne  clay 
Tnat  givetn  me  tread. 

Wko  tut  tte  Kills. 
Wno  tut  tne  sea, 
Wno  tut  tne  nowers 
Ttat  fold  on  the  tree. 

WKo  tut  the  motns 
Tnat  nutter  and  J)ass. 
Who  tut  the  lamts 
That  cry  in  the  grass. 

Wno  tut  the  darlcness, 

Wno  tut  the  rain, 

W^no  tut  tne  grave,  tne  grave  — 

All  else  arc  vain  ! 

All  else  are  vain  ! 

76 


O  Glorious  Childhearer 

O  glorious  cnilaDearer. 

O  secret  womb, 

O  gilded  tridechainDer,   from  wliicn   hatn  come   the 

signtly  Bridegroom  fortn, 
O  amber  veil, 

TKou  sittest  in  Keaven.  tlic  wnite  love  or  tne  Oael. 
Tky  Kead  is  crowned  with  stars,  thy  radiant  hair 
Shines  like  a  river  thro    the  twilight  air; 
Thou  walhest  by  trodden  ways  and  trackless  seas. 
Immaculate  of  man  s  innrmities. 


77 


Coronach 

Come,  f)i{)es.  sound 

A  crooning  coronacn  rovincl. 

Till  kill  ana  hollow  glen  ana  shaaowed  lake  o  erilow 

With  welling  music  or  our  woe. 

Beat,  beat,  ye  muriea  arums,  ye  drones  and  cnanters 

wail, 
VVitn  heartbreak  of  the  baffled,  battle-broken  Gael. 
1  he  clay  is  deep  on  Ireland  s  breast  : 
Her  f)roud  and  bleeding  neart  is  laid  at  last  to  rest. 

1  o  rest    .    .    to  rest  ! 


7% 


Twilight  Fallen 


iwilight  fallen  white  and  cold, 
Cliila  in  cradle,  lamt)  m  fold  ; 
Glimmering  tliro    tke  gKostly  trees. 
Gremini  and  Pleiades. 

Wounds  of  Eloim, 

Weef)  on  me  ! 

BlacK-wmged  vamjiires  flitting  by. 
Curlews  crying  m  tne  sky  ; 
Grey  mists  wreatking  from  the  ground. 
Wra|>f)ing  rath  and  burial  mound. 

Wounds  of  Eloim, 

W^eef)  on  me  ! 

Heard,  like  some  sad  Gaelic  strain. 
Ocean  s  ancient  voice  in  f)ain  ; 
Darkness  folding  hill  and  wood. 
Sorrow  drinking  at  my  blood, 
W^ounds  of  Eloim, 


Wcejt)  on  me  ! 


79 


The  Dawn  Whiteness 

1  ne  aawn  wnitcness. 

A  bank  or  slate-grey  eloua  lying  heavily 

over  it. 
The  moon,   like  a  nunted  tning,  arof)f)ing 

into  the  cloua. 


80 


The  Dwarf 


Look  at  nim  now,  tne  son. 
Ana  the  cnurchyara  twist  m  nis  foot. 
Standing  there  by  his  motner  s  door. 
As  if  nc  had  taken  root! 

She  crossed  a  grave,  tney  say. 

On  a  black  Day  m  sj)ring. 

And  bore  Kim  in  tKe  seventh  montn — 

A  f)oor,  misshapen  thing. 

Kneeling  down  m  tne  dark 
Slie  travailed  without  a  cry. 
And  gave  liim  the  mothering  kiss 
Between  tke  earth  and  the  sky. 

He  licks  cuckoo-sf>ittlc,  they  say. 
And  eats  tke  dung  of  tke  roads. 
Mocking  tke  journeymen 
As  tkey  pass  by  witk  tkeir  loads. 

81 


L/Ook  at  Ins  little  face — 
As  grey  as  wool  is  grey — 
Ana  tne  cast  m  nis  green  eye. 
oo  wild  ana  lar  away. 

Does  ne  see  Magn-meala  ? 

is  his  oreatn  human  breatn  ? 

Are  nis  tnougnts  of  the  niaaen  things 

Untoucnea  oy  time  ana  death  ? 

rlangmg  tnere  by  the  naif-door. 
Dangling  his  devil  s  foot. 
StocK-still  on  the  threshold. 
As  if  he  had  taken  root  ! 


82 


/  See  all  Love  in 
Lowly  Things 

I  see  all  love  in  lowly  tnings. 
No  less  tKan  m  tKe  lusts  of  kings  : 
All  beauty.  sKa|)e  and  comeliness. 
All  valour,  strength  and  gentleness. 
All  genius,  wit  ana  holiness. 

Out  of  corruf)tion  comes  tne  flower, 
TKe  corn  is  kindred  witK  tKe  clay : 
TKe  f)lougK-Kand  is  a  Kand  of  f)ower. 
Nobler  tKan  gold,  brigKter  tKan  day. 

TKcn  let  tKe  le{)er  lift  Kis  Kead, 
TKe  cri{)f)le  dance.  tKe  caf)tive  smg, 
TKe  beggar  reaf)  and  eat  Kis  bread  — 
He  is  no  baser  tKan  a  king  ! 


83 


'  Tis  Pretty  tae  be 
in  Bai/e-Liosan 

Tis  pretty  tae  te  in  Baile-liosan, 

Tis  J)retty  tae  te  in  green  Magk-luan ; 

Tis  J)rettier  tae  te  m  Newtownoreaa, 

Beekmg  under  tne  eaves  in  June. 

TKe  cummers  are  out  wi    their   Knitting  ana 
s{)inning, 

TKe  tkrusK  sings  frae  Kis  crit  on  tne  wa  . 

And  o  er  tlie  wnite  road  tne  clachan  caddies 

Play  at  tneir  marlies  and  goalmg-ba  . 


O,  fair  are  tne  nelds  o    Baile-liosan, 
And  fair  are  tne  faes  o   green  Magn-luan; 
Jjut  fairer  tne  nowers  o    i\ewtownbreda, 

Vvet  wi    dew  in  tne  eves  o    June. 

Tis  {)leasant  tae  saunter  trie  claclian  tnoro 
Wnen  day  sinks  mellow  o  er  Duonais  nill. 
And  feel  tneir  fragrance  sae  softly  breatning 
rrae  croft  and  causey  and  w^indow-sill. 

84 


O.  Lrave  are  trie  havifjns  o    Baile-hosan, 
And  brave  are  tke  lialJs  o    green  Magh-luan; 
But  traver  tne  names  o    iNewtownbreaa, 
Twined  atout  wi    tne  ^inks  o    June. 
And  just  as  tke  face  is  sae  kindly  witnovitcn, 
Tne  neart  witnm  is  as  guid  as  gold — 
Wi    new  fair  tallants  and  merry  music, 
And  cracks  cam    down  frae  tne  days  oi  old. 

1  IS  J)retty  tae  Le  in  Baile-liosan, 
Tis  {)retty  tae  be  in  green  Magk-luan; 
Tis  f)rcttier  tae  be  m  Newtownbreda, 
Beeking  under  the  eaves  in  June. 
Tke  cummers  are  out  wi    tkeir  knitting  and 

sj)inning, 
Tke  tkrusk  sings  frae  kis  crib  on  tke  wa  , 
And  o  er  tke  w^kite  road  tke  clackan  caadies 
Play  at  tkeir  marlies  and  goaling-ba  . 


85 


Ciaran,  the  Master  of 
Horses  and  Lands 

Ciaran,  tKe  master  or  norses  ana  lanas. 

Once  Kad  no  more  than  the  norn  on  nis  nands. 

But  Ciaran  is  nek  now,  and  Ciaran  is  great. 
And  rides  witk  tke  air  ox    a  squire  of  estate. 

O  Ckrist  !   and  to  see  tke  man  uf>  on  tke  back 
Of  a  tkorougkbred  stallion,  a  Lay  or  a  klack  ! 

Tkere  s  not  a  korseoreeder  from  Banna  to  Laoi 
Can  kandle  tke  snaffle  so  pretty  as  ke  ! 

And  Ciaran,  for  all.  kas  tke  wit  of  a  ckild, 
A  keart  just  as  soft,  and  an  eye  just  as  mild. 

No  maker  of  kallads  J)uts  curse  at  kis  door  : 
He  kandsels  tke  singer,  and  karbours  tke  ^oor. 

For  Ciaran.  tke  master  of  korses  and  lands. 
Once  kad  no  more  tkan  tke  korn  on  kis  kands. 

86 


Deep  Ways  and 
Dripping  Boughs 

Decf)  ways  ana  ari|)|)ing  Dougns. 

1  he  fog  lalling  drearily  : 

Cowhercls  calling  on  their  cows, 

Ana  1  crying  wearily, 

Vv  earily.  wearily,  out-a-aoor. 

Houseless,  neartnless,  coatless,  kinalcss. 

Poorest  of  all  tne  wanaenng  Jjoor. 

1  am  tne  oeggar  Christ  — 

Cnrist  tnat  calmea  trie  castling  flood  ! 

Grose  and  tnorn  nave  not  sumced 

To  {)unisn  me  as  you  would  ; 

But  out-a-door  in  wind  and  ram. 

Houseless,  heartless,  coatless,  kmdless. 

You  keef)  me  wandering  m  f)ain. 


^7 


Night,  and  I  Travelling 

Nigkt,  and  I  travelling. 

An  o|)en  aoor  oy  the  wayside. 

Throwing  ovit  a  sliaft  of  warm  yellow  ligkt. 

A.  whiTi  or  J)eat-smol<:e; 

A  gleam  of  aeli  on  tne  dresser  witlim; 

A  w^oman  s  voice  crooning,  as  ii  to  a  eliild. 

I  ^ass  on  into  tne  darkness. 


88 


Night-piece 


Fill  me,  O  stars. 

A.S  with  an  omen  tune. 

Look  thro    yovir  cloudy    oars, 

O  summer  moon; 

Look  tnro  .  ana  drencn  in  silver  lignt 

My  soul  tnis  night. 

O  brier,  encnantea  arcam 

Or  sea  and  sky. 

Of  f)lougliland,  meadow,  stream. 

And  twilignt  loth  to  die. 

Of  fire  and  dew — 

My  soul  is  one  witn  you! 


89 


At  Morning  Tide 


At  morning  tide. 

Upon  the  nill  or   Sliabn-na-mBan, 

1  saw  tne  aeaa  Onrist  glorinea  ! 

His  Doay,  like  tne  risen  sun, 

Was  all  too  Drignt  to  look  uf)on  : 

The  blue  air  burnea 

About  nim  :    in  his  side 

And  Kands  and  feet  tkere  snone 

(Thro    stabs  and  gasnes  gafiing  wide) 

The  golden  glory  or    nis  blood  : 

Tne  gilly  stood 

Uf)on  kis  rigkt  kand  :    at  Kis  reet 

Tke  nsners.  Peter,  James  and  John, 

Knelt  worsni{)f)ing 

VVitn  outstretched  arms,  and  eyes 

To  neaven  turned  : 

And  Maria,  nis  motner  sweet, 

(Tlie  f)artner  of  nis  mysteries ), 

And  Magdalen  and  Salome 

Came  tnro    tne  doorway  of   tne  day 

Behind  nim.  weef)ing. 

Tnen  a  cloud  came  o  er 
My  senses,  and  I  saw^  and  heard  no  more 

90 


The  May-Fire 

Come  away.  O  Maire  Ban, 
Come  away,  come  away 
Where  tne  heads  of  ceanahhau 
1  remole  in  tne  twilignt  air. 
Ana  tne  rusnes  noa  ana  sway, 
Ana  no  otner  sound  is  neard 
LJut  tne  swaying  of  tne  rusnes. 
And  tne  snouts  from  Croc-an-air, 
And  tne  singing  of  tne  ndils. 
And  tne  laugning  of  tne  dancers 
Round  about  tne  yellow  nre. 
And  tne  scream  of  the  water-Lird. 


Come  away,  O  life  of  me. 

O  Done  of  me,  O  olood  of  me — 

Feilim  has  a  tale  to  tell: 

He  would  own  his  love  for  tkee. 

Smitten  first  at  Mvira  s  well, 

13itten  at  tne  JLammas  J>attern, 

91 


By  the  tlessed  Mvira  s  well. 
He  would  tell  tnee.  Maire  Ban, 
How  nis  f)vilses  leaf)  ana  thrill 
Quicker  tkan  tKc  old  men  s  ndils. 
Singing  ovit  from  yonder  nill. 


Come  away,  O  heart  s  desire. 
From  the  ruddy-ieatured  circle. 
From  the  story-telling  circle. 
By  the  wreathing  Bealtein  nre. 
Come  aw^ay,  come  away. 
Come  away,  O  Maire  Ban. 
^Vhere  the  heads  or  ceanahhan 
Xremtlc  m  the  twilight  air. 
And  the  voice  oi  love  is  heard 
Whispering  o  er  the  tending  rushes 
Like  a  hidden,  holy  hird. 
Come  away,  O  JVlaire  Ban — 
reilim  s  face  is  fairy-wan, 
r  eilim  s  heart  is  sick  and  f)ale. 
Languishing  for  love  of  thee. 

92 


/  Love  the  Din  of 
Beating  Drums 


I  love  tKe  dm  of  beating  drums, 

Tne  tellowing  J)i{)e.  the  sKrieking  ni6  : 

TKe   discord  and    tKe  dissonance   is   my  tlood,   my 

breatK,  my  lire  I 
TKe  discord  and  tKe  dissonance  is  my  lire  ! 

Away  witK  flutes  and  dancing  lutes  — 
SucK  music  likes  tut  lovers    ears  : 
Give  me  tKe  beating  battledrum, 
TKe  gunpeal  and  tKe  cKeers  ! 
TKe  bellowing  f)if)e  and  battledrum, 
TKe  gunf)eal  and  tKe  cKeers  ! 


93 


Three  Colts  Exercising  in  a 
Six-Acre 

Three  colts  exercising  in  a  six-acre, 

A  nilly  sweej)  of  unieneea  grass  over  the  road. 

What  a  J)ict\jre  they  make  against  tne  skyline  ! 
NecKS  stretcnea.  hocks  moving  royally,  tails  nymg  ; 
Farm-laas    u^),   ana    tney  crouching    low    on    tneir 
witners. 

I  nave  a  journey  to  go  — 

A.    lawyer    to    see,   ana    a    J>aJ)er    to    sign    in     tKe 

Tontine  — 
But  I  slacken  my  J)ace  to  watcli  tnem. 


94 


The  Natural 

"  Lend  us  tKe    loan  of  a  lialf|)enny.  sir  !      — 
And  Ke  passed  witK  Kis  st)len(licl  nose  in  the  air. 

A  gaunt,  grey  carcase  or  skin  and  bones. 
As  cold  as  tke  river,  as  liard  as  tne  stones. 

To  kim  tKe  KigKway  was  taole  and  bed, 
Skift  for  tke  newborn  and  sheet  for  the  dead. 

TKe  wind  tkat  blew  from  Beola  crest 
Seemed  iire  to  fetter  nis  wild  unrest. 

TKe  rain  tKat  beat  on  Kis  necK  and  face, 
A  goad  to  quicken  Kim  in  Kis  f)ace. 

But  sorrow  a  stef)  Ke  cKanged,  and  Kis  t)rayer 
Was  still  —  **  Lend  us  tKe  loan  of  a  Kalf|)enny, 
sir  I 


95 


On  the  Top' Stone 


On  tne  to|)-stone. 

A.  ni+)|)ing  w^ina  Dlov/ing. 

Winter  ausK  closing  m  from  tne  soutn  Ards. 

The  moon  rising,  white  ana  fantastic,  over  the  lock 

ana  the  town  below. 
I   take   off  my  hat,  salute  ker,  and  descend  into  tke 

darkness. 


96 


The  JVomen  at  their  Doors 

The  Daoes  were  asleej)  m  tneir  craales. 
Ana  the  day  s  aruage  was  done. 
And  the  women  brought  their  su|)j^ers  out 
To  eat  them  in  the  sun. 

**  To-night  I  will  set  my  needles,  Ame, 
And  Eoghan  will  have  stockings  to  wear  : 
I  sf)un  the  wool  of  the  horny  ewe 
He  bought  at  the  hiring  fair 

Bvit  what  IS  that  sound  I  hear,  Nahla  ?  — 
It  IS  like  the  cheering  of  men. 
God  keep  our  kind  from  the  devil  s  snare  ! 
And  the  women  answered,  "Amen  ! 

Then  the  moon  rose  over  the  valley, 
And  the  cheering  died  aw^ay. 
And  the  women  went  within  their  doors 
At  the  mouth  of  the  summer  day. 

97 


And  no  men  came  in  at  midnignt. 

And  no  men  came  in  at  tne  dawn, 

And  tke  women  keened  ty  tkeir  ashy  nres 

Till  tKeir  faces  were  Kaggard  and  wan. 

For  tkey  knew  tkey  Kad  gone  to  tlie  trysting 

Witk  f>ike  and  musketoon. 

To  figKt  for  tKeir  keartks  and  altars 

At  tKe  rising  of  tke  moon  ! 


98 


My  Little  Dark  Love 

My  litttle  dark  love  is  a  wineterry. 
As  swartK  and  as  sweet.  I  nold  : 
But  as  tlie  dew  on  tke  wineLcrry 
Her  heart  is  a-cold. 

I  would  Ker  love  were  as  warm  as  the  lignt 
That  lives  in  ker  eye  of  grey. 
And  tken  my  Keart  would  know  tke  t>cace 
It  dreams  in  tke  kills  away. 

I  would  ker  love  were  as  warm  as  tke  rosa 
Tkat  blows  on  ker  ekeek  of  trown. 
And  tken  my  sunless  soul  would  laugk 
At  tke  woe  tkat  weigks  it  down. 

Ske  dwells  in  tke  valley,  my  little  dark  love. 
Wkere  tke  river  sings  to  tke  sea. 
And  an  ogkam-stone  sits  by  ker  door. 
And  nlgk  to  it  kazels  tkree. 

99 


And  oft  wnen  the  f)urf)le  twilight  comeg. 
Ana  trie  Duna  oats  nits  m  the  air. 
I  wander  down  from  the  quiet  kills 
To  seek  my  gweetneart  tnere. 

jDut  sne  comes  never  —  sne  loves  not  me. 
Nor  ever  will  love.  I  nold  ; 
For  tno    my  heart  is  a  {)eat  oi   nre. 
Her  neart  is  a-cold  1 


100 


/  Heard  a  Piper 
Piping 

I  Keard  a  {>]per  t)il)ing 
TKe  blue  kills  among — 
And  never  did  i  liear 
So  t)laintive  a  song. 

It  seemed  but  a  fart 
Of  tlie  kill  s  melanckoly  : 
No  J)it)er  living  tkere 
Could  ever  be  jolly  ! 

And  still  tke  f)it)er  f)ij)ed 
Tke  blvie  kills  among. 
And  all  tke  birds  were  quiet 
To  listen  to  nis  song- 


101 


A  Sheepdog  Barks  on 
the  Mountain 

A  skee^dog  Larks  on  tke  mountain, 
TKe  nigkt  IS  fallen  cola  ; 
Tke  sKef)lier<l  Llmks  at  nis  nre. 
TKe  sKeeJ)  are  in  the  lom. 

Tke  moon  comes  wkite  ana  quiet 
Into  tke  winter  sky  : 
And  notkmg  walks  tke  valley 
To-nigkt  kut  you  ana  I. 


101 


The  Clouds  go  By 
and  By 

TKe  clouds  go  ty  and  by, 
TKe  Keron  sings  in  tke  tlue  — 
And  I  lie  dreaming,  dreaming 
Ever  of  you. 

The  stag  on  tke  hill  is  free. 
And  the  wind  is  blowing  sweet 
But  I  lie  bound  a  t)risoner 
At  your  feet. 


102 


Davy  Daw 

Woa  !  are  you  there  my  bonny  mare? 
I  our  wnmny  seems  to  say — 

**  J3y  JDealaen  forge  ana  Creagack  fair 

We'll  gallof)  Kard  to-day  !  " 
1  ou  enamj)  your  snaffle  all  to  foam, 

Ana  ileeK  your  counter  trigkt ; 

Bnt  now  we  bid  adieu  to  Kome 

Until  tKe  fall  of  nigkt. 

Davy  Daw,  Davy  Daw.  witk  kis  early  korn. 
His  kuntmg-croj)  and  tag  of  corn — 
ills  keart  s  as  merry  as  a  mottle-tkrusk 
Tkat  sings  all  day  in  tke  kawtkorn  busk. 

Come  kitker.  Bran  of  ancient  seed. 
And  lick  your  master  s  kand  ; 
1  swear  no  dog  of  f)virer  breed 
Is  found  in  all  tke  land. 
Brave  scion  of  Cuckullain  s  branck. 
vVell  do  you,  kovmd,  uJ)kold 
Tke  prowess  and  tke  courage  staunck 
1  kat  marked  your  line  of  old. 

104 


Davy  Daw,  Davy  Daw,  my  merry  man, 
I  love  toast  crab  in  a  pewter  can. 
Our  tastes  are  like  as  like  can  be — 
But  a  measure  or  ale  m  tne  can  for  me  ! 

Ine  wind  is  low  ana  scent  is  good. 

And  Mada  s  on  tne  green  : 

He  Kid  kis  Kead  m  Cratla  Wood 

bince  early  yestere  en. 

You  beat  tkc  busk  from  fieej)  of  lignt. 

And  set  tne  wnms  anre  ; 

And  now  tne  tory  is  in  sight. 

You  ve  got  your  neart  s  desire. 

Davy  Daw^,  Davy  Daw^,  for  a  crab  well-browned 
In  tbe  smiling  flood  of  a  cruiscm  drowned. 
Give  me,  sirree,  my  crab  and  ale. 
And  bog  or  batter,  my  Keart  won  t  fail  ! 

The  sun  is  out,  and  Davy  s  up. 
And  bounds  are  on  the  run  : 
It  s  bard  be  11  earn  bis  stirruf)-cuf) 
Before  the  day  is  done  ! 

105 


A  jolly  life  we  nunters  lead 
Ufjon  tke  saddle  nign  : 
We  see  no  devil  m  tne  bead. 
And  drain  our  noggins  dry. 

Davy  Daw,  Davy  Daw  is  a  kuntsman  told  ; 

He  s  more  to  me  tnan  a  kingdom  s  gold. 

A  kind  for  dinner  and  a  kare  to  8uf>— 

O  tkat  s  wkat  I  get  wken  Davy  s  up  ! 

Tke  fox  IS  fast  uf)on  tke  kill. 

He  s  wary  m  tke  dale  : 

But  I  will  ride  to  Penny  Mill 

Before  I  lose  kis  tail. 

X  kat  brusk  was  torn  to  make  a  eaj) 

For  gallant  Eoin  Og  ; 

And  I  will  kave  it,  kang-or-ka{). 

As  sure  as  I  m  a  rogue, 

Davy  Daw,  Davy  Daw,  for  a  morning  ckase, 
vVitk  an  Irisk  tlood  to  make  tke  f)aee  : 
He  s  last  to  ekeek  and  nrst  to  view. 
And  kard  to  tke  deatk  ke  leads  kis  queue. 

Day  m  we  kunt  tke  sf)inney  fox. 

Day  out  tke  raf){)aree  ; 

//is  cave  is  m  tke  troken  rocks 

Atove  tke  Correi-tuidke. 

A  skameful  tking,  tke  ladies  say, 

To  kunt  your  fellow-man  ;     . 

But  follow  kim  till  kard  at  kay 

It  8  just  tke  ladies  can! 

106 


Davy  Daw.  Davy  Daw.  tKe  brusK  is  won  ! 
A  good  jot.  sir.  our  work  is  done, 
WKitefoot  went  lame  tKis  side  o    tnc  mill. 
And  Im  as  dry  as  an  old  lime-kiln. 

Red  rogue.  Ke'll  kill  his  goose  no  more  : 
Close  work  it  was.  for  tKe  light  is  o  er. 
Just  close  work,  sir.  Lut  tKe  Dut  s  close  to, 
WitK  a  can  for  me  and  a  crao  for  you  ! 

Black  Sile  of  the  Silver  Eye 

As  I  rode  down  to  Gartan  fair 
I  met  a  girl  uf)on  tKe  way  ; 
TKe  winter  nigKt  was  on  Ker  Kair. 
TKe  summer  dawn  was  in  Ker  eye. 

And  O.  sKe  stet)J)ed  witK  sucK  a  gait. 
And  tore  Ker  rovmd  Klack  Kead  so  KigK. 
And  tossed  it  so.  I  knew  Ker  straigKt 
For  Sile  of  tKe  Silver  Eye. 

**  God  save  you.  Sile.  love,     says  I  : 
**  God  save  you  kindly,     mvirmured  sKe  — 
And  love  was  welling  m  Ker  eye 
As  sKe  dro{)f)ed  me  tKe  courtesy. 

TKe  movintam  toys  uJ)on  tKe  road 
Were  at  tKemselves  for  jealousy 
WKen  tKey  saw  Seamus  win  tKe  nod 
From  Sile  of  tKe  Silver  Eye. 

107 


vVe  rode  togetlier  to  tlie  fair. 
We  aancea  togetner  on  tne  green  ; 
And.  laitn,  tney  say  a  suf)J)ler  f)air 
Was  ne  er  before  a  -f)ij)er  seen. 

BlacK  Sile  of  tne  Silver  Eye 
Has  been  my  wife  for  twenty  year. 
And  still  ner  sloe-black  bead  is  KigK. 
And  still  ner  eye  is  silver  clear. 

And.  God  be  f)raised.  we  nave  a  girl. 
As  like  ner  as  like  well  can  be — 
Tne  round  black  head,  tne  roguish  curl, 
Tne  soft  tongue  and  tne  silver  eye. 

God  bless  tne  old,  God  bless  the  new. 
And  send  tnem  stout  f)osterity — 
Old  Sile  and  young  Sile,  too — 
Both  "  Sile  of  tne  Silver  Eye  ! 


108 


Dead  Oakleaves 
Everywhere 

Dead  oakleaves  everywhere 
Unaer  my  feet. 
Filling  tKe  forest  air 
With  odours  sweet. 

Acorns,  tkree.  four  ana  nve. 
Falling  a^ace. 
Tkank  God  I  am  alive 
TKis  day  of  grace  ! 


109 


A  Night  Prayer 

Pray  for  me,  Seacnnal, 
Pray  for  me,  Mel  : 
oave  me  from  sin 
AnJ  tke  cold  stone  of  nell 

Brigia  and  Ita 
And  Eitnne  the  Red, 
bj)read  out  your  mantles 
And  cover  my  Led  ! 

For  rann  and  gosf)el 
Have  gone  from  my  mmd. 
And  devils  are  walking 
Abroad  in  tne  wind  ! 


110 


/  am  the  Mountainy  Singer 

I  am  tne  mountainy  singer. 

And  I  wovild  sing  of  tKe  Christ 

WKo  followed  tKe  f)atlis  tKro    tne  mountains 

To  eat  at  tne  J)eoJ)le  s  tryst. 

lie  loved  tne  sun-dark  J)eof)le 
A.S  the  young  man  loves  nis  bride. 
And  ne  moved  among  tneir  thatcnes, 
And  for    them  was  crucined. 

And  the  f)eoJ)le  loved  him,  also. 
More  than  their  houses  or  lands. 
For  they  had  known  his  J)ity 
And  felt  the  touch  of  his  hands. 

And  they  dreamed  with  him  in  the  mountains. 

And  they  walked  with  him  on  the  sea. 
And  they  Jirayed  with  him  in  the  garden. 
And  bled  with  him  on  the  tree. 

HI 


Not  ever  ty  longing  and  dreaming 
May  they  come  to  nim  now. 
But  Ly  tke  thorns  or  sorrow 
That  truiscd  kis  kingly  brow. 


112 


The  Rainbow  Spanning 
A  Planet  Shower 

TKe  raintow  st)anning  a  |)lanct  shower. 
Tke  sloe  in  Lerry.  tKe  flax  in  flower. 

TKe  scliolar  s  satcKel.  tKe  teggar  s  start, 
TKe  J)lougKman  s  wKistle.  tKe  tinl^er  s  laugK. 

TKe  stranded  Kooker,  tKe  breaking  wave. 
TKe  sunrise  gilding  tKe  cam  of  Meab. 

TKe  strengtK  of  mountains.  tKe  swiftness  of  wind 
Blowing  over  tKe  leagues  beKmd. 

TKe  Kot  lit)s  sealing  tKe  spoken  word. 
TKe  song  in  gentle  f)laces  Keard. 

TKe  wildgoose  trum{)eting  in  tKe  tlue, 
TKe  f)ostcar  stuck  in  a  drift  of  snow. 

113 


Tne  bogslide  moving,  the  seaward  leaf). 
The  cry,  tne  townland  wkelmed  m  sleef). 

The  sock  on  the  anvil,  tke  tKread  m  tKe  loom, 
Tne  Host  on  tke  altar,  tKe  ckild  m  tke  womb. 

Tke  waysiae  murder,  tke  wkisf)cred  name, 
Tke  kanging  body,  tke  kidden  skame. 

And  more  —  il  you  but  listen  and  look  — 
In  tkis,  my  elemental  book  ! 


114 


/  Will  Go  With  My 
Father  A-Ploughing 


I  will  go  witK  my  fatlier  a-t)lougliing 

To  tke  green  field  by  tne  sea. 

And  tKe  rooks  and  tke  crows  and  tke  seagulls 

Will  come  flocking  after  me. 

I  will  sing  to  tke  f)attent  korses 

Witk  tke  lark  in  tke  wkite  of  tke  air. 

And  my  fatker  will  sing  tke  t)lougk-song 

Tkat  Llesses  tke  cleaving  skare. 


I  will  go  witk  my  fatker  a-sowmg 

To  tke  red  field  ty  tke  sea. 

And  tke  rooks  and  tke  gulls  and  tke  starlings 

Will  come  flocking  after  me. 

I  will  sing  to  tke  striding  sowers 

Witk  tke  finck  on  tke  greening  sloe. 

And  my  fatker  will  sing  tke  seed-song 

Tkat  only  tke  wise  men  know. 

115 


I  will  go  with  my  jfather  a-reaj)ing 

To  tne  Drown  nela  oy  tne  sea. 

Ana  tne  geese  ana  tne  crows  ana  trie  cnilaren 

vVill  come  nocking  after  me. 

I  will  sing  to  the  taniacea  reat)ers 

With  tne  wren  m  tne  Keat  of  tKe  sun. 

Ana  my  father  will  sing  tlie  seytKe-song 

Tnat  joys  for  the  harvest  done. 


116 


The  Shining  Spaces 
of  the  South 

Tke  skining  sj)aces  or   the  soutn. 
Tke  circle  or   trie  year,  tne  sea, 
Xke  tlowmg  rose,  the  maiden  s  mouth. 
The  love,  the  hate,  the  ecstasy. 
The  golden  wood,  the  shadowed  stream. 
The  dew,  the  light,  the  wind,  the  ram. 
The  man  s  desire,  the  woman  s  dream. 
The  ted  embrace,  the  childmg  J)ain. 
The  sound  or   music  heard  afar. 
The  hreathmg  grass,  the  broken  sod. 
The  sun,  the  moon,  the  twilight  star  — 
Do  all  J)roclaim  the  mind  or  God. 
Then  why  should  I,  who  am  but  clay. 
Think  otherwise,  or  answer  nay  f 


117 


Like  a  Tuft  of 
Ceanabhan 

Like  a  tuft  of  ceanabhan 
Blowing  in  tke  wind 
Is  my  slenaer  Aine  Ban  — 
Wnite  ana  soft  and.  kind. 

Kind  ner  neart  is.  tut  her  clann  s 
Cold  as  clay  or  stone. 
Would  tnat  I  nad  nerds  and  lands 
Xo  take  ner  for  my  own  ! 


118 


The  Herb-Leech 

I  Kave  gatliered  hiss 
At  tke  wane  of  tlie  moon. 
And  suJ)J)e<l  its  saf) 
WitK  a  yewen  sj[)oon. 
I  Kave  sat  a  sj)ell 
By  ttic  earn  of   MedD, 
And  smelt  tke  mould 
Of  tlie  red  queen  s  grave. 
I  nave  dreamed  a  dearth 
In  tke  darkened  svin. 
And  ft'lt  tke  kand 
Of  tke  Evil  One. 
I  kave  fatkomed  war 
In  tke  comet  s  tail. 
And  keard  tke  crying 
Oi  Gall  and  Gael. 
I  kave  seen  tke  st)ume 
On  tke  dead  f)riest  s  li;^s, 
And  tke  "  koly  fire 
On  tke  sf)ars  of  skif)s  ; 

119 


And  the  snooting  stars 

On  BartKelmy  s  Niglit, 

Blanching  the  aarK 

Witk  gkostly  ligkt  ; 

Ana  the  corf)se-canale 

Of  tne  seer  s  dream. 

Bigger  in  girth 

Tnan  a  weaver  s  beam  ; 

Ana  the  shy  neartk-fairies 

About  tne  grate. 

Blowing  the  turves 

Xo  a  whiter  heat. 

All  things  on  earth 

To  me  are  known. 

For  I  have  tne  gilt 

Of  the  Murrain  Stone  ! 


120 


Who  Buys  Land 

Wko  buys  land  buys  many  stones, 
WKo  tuys  flesK  buys  many  bones  ; 
^Vl^o  buys  eggs  buys  many  snells. 
Wbo  buys  love  buys  notning  else. 

Love  is  a  burr  uJ)on  tne  floor. 
Love  is  a  tniei  benina  tne  door  ; 
Who  loves  leman  for  her  breatn 
May  quencb  bis  nre  and  cry  for  deatn  ! 

Love  IS  a  bridle,  love  is  a  load. 
Love  IS  a  thorn  uf)on  tne  road  ; 
Love  IS  tbe  fly  tbat  flits  its  Kour, 
Love  is  tbe  sbining  venom-flower. 

Love  is  a  net,  love  is  a  snare. 
Love  IS  a  bubble  blown  witn  air  ; 
Love  starts  hot,  and  waning  cold. 
Is  witnered  in  tbe  grave  s  mould  ! 

121 


The  Poet  Loosed 
A  Winged  Song 


1  ne  f)oet  loosed  a  winged  song 
Against  tne  kulk  of  England  s  wrong. 
Were  f)oisoned  words  at  kis  command. 

Twould  not  avail  for  Ireland. 

1  ne  soldier  lifted  uf)  a  sword. 
And  on  the  kills  m  tattle  f)oured 
rlis  life-blood  liKe  an  ebbing  sea  — 
And  still  we  f)ine  for  liberty. 

1  ke  friar  sjjoke  kis  bitter  koJ)e. 
And  danced  uJ)on  tke  gallov/s  roJ)e. 
Were  ke  to  dance  tkat  dance  again 
A  kundred  times,    twould  ke  in  vain. 

122 


Cnrist  save  us  !   Only  thou  canst  save  ! 
The  nation  staggers  to  the  grave. 
Can  genius,  valour,  faith  he  given. 
Ana  win  no  recom|)ense  of  heaven  ? 

No.  Christ  !   ty  Ireland  s  martyr  s,  no  I 
Xwas  not  for  this  we  suffered  so. 
Die,  die  again  on  Calvary  tree. 
If  needs  te.  Cnrist.  to  set  us  free  ! 
1  o  set  us  free  ! 


123 


Sic  Transit 

I  lit  my  tallow 

An  hour  ago. 

AnJ  now  it  IS  turning 

Dark  ana  low. 

TKe  glimmer  lengtnens 
And  turns  about. 
Sinks  in  tne  sconce  — 
Tken  flickers  out  ! 


124 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
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